Ancient cultures from around the globe are represented in Read & Understand, Myths & Legends, which draws numerous lessons from timeless stories of gods, goddesses, heroes and heroines. This volume features 19 two- and three-page stories that vary in reading difficulty from fourth to ending sixth grade to meet a range of needs. The book is divided into three sections by origin of the stories. Each section begins with an introduction to provide the teacher with background information. Included are: Nine Greek and Roman Myths Arachne's Web, Jason and the Golden Fleece, Echo and Narcissus, Orpheus and Eurydice, Pandora, Psyche and Cupid, The Adventures of Perseus, The Seasons, Theseus and the Minotaur & Daedalus and Icarus Three Norse Myths Thor and the Giants, Thor's Hammer, Balder the Good Seven Myths & Legends from around the World Gigamesh and Enkidu (Middle Eastern), Maui and the Sun (Hawaiian), The Earth and Sky (African), The Ten Suns (Chinese), How It All Began (Mayan), Sedna, Goddess of the Sea (Inuit), The Sky Woman (Native American) Practice activities for every story include: - a comprehension page - a vocabulary page - two pages for practice of skills such as: -structural analysis character analysis -figures of speech -understanding plot development -setting and mood These exercises challenge students to recall details, draw conclusions, make inferences, make comparisons, sequence story events, and more. Each story is delightfully illustrated in with expressive line art that intermediate students will appreciate. Complete answer key included. All 144 pages are reproducible for classroom use and perforated for easy removal. $12.95 each.